Tuesday, 30 September 2014

I didn't do an official cover reveal because that is another bunch of extra work for me and everyone else, but if you want to share, please do!

I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone who took part - I have been so touched and overwhelmed by the effort you all went to for this, so on behalf of Teignbridge and Totnes Cats Protection (and the other branches who will also hopefully benefit) - an enormous thank you meow!

The anthology will be available in paperback on November 10th (I'll share links when it's live!), when we will also be holding a special book launch/auction night for the branch, and another local charity! I am so excited about it, and I will take many photos and keep you all updated on how it goes!

ALSO, and I know I've mentioned this a couple of times, so I apologise, but I do have a cover reveal for my new rock star romance coming up in one week! If you could sign up to help me out I would really appreciate it! Sign up form

AAAAAnnnnnd if you are a Facebooker, you can go here for a chance to win a $5/£5 Amazon gift card!

Thursday, 25 September 2014

When a woman finds herself in the middle of a war between
a police force and The Mob, 30 SECONDS is a long time.

Title: 30 Seconds

Author: Chrys Fey

Genre: Romantic-Suspense

Heat Rating: Spicy (PG13)

Length: Novella (105 pages)

Format: eBook

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Published: 09/10/2014

BLURB:

When Officer Blake Herro agreed to go
undercover in the Mob, he thought he understood the risks. But he's made
mistakes and now an innocent woman has become their target. He's determined to
protect her at all costs.

The Mob's death threat turns Dr. Dani
Hart's life upside down, but there is one danger she doesn’t anticipate. As
she's dodging bullets, she's falling in love with Blake. With danger all around
them, will she and Blake survive and have a happy ending, or will the Mob make
good on their threat?

EXCERPT: She
panted with fear. What if they see the
chest? What if we get caught? What if my breath stinks and I’m breathing right
into Officer Hottie’s face? She shut her mouth and let oxygen flow through
her nose.

Her
eyesight slowly adjusted to the darkness and she could see Officer Herro’s
silhouette. His head was turned and he was listening to the thuds of heavy
boots getting louder; the intruders were coming their way.

Then
the thunder of footsteps sounded right next to them. “There’s no one here,
Red,” someone announced.

“Look
for documents,” a man ordered, who Dani could only assume was Red. “I want the
name of the person I’m going to kill.”

A
moment later, there was a reply. “All the mail is addressed to a Dr. Hart.”

Hearing
her name said aloud by one of the men who had ransacked her place made her want
to gasp. Her mouth fell open and her breath was reversing into her lungs, but
before she could make a sound, Officer Herro lowered his lips to hers,
silencing her. Stunned, she could only lie beneath him with her eyes wide and
her body tense. She couldn’t believe he was kissing her. She wanted to push him
back, but knew if she did he might hit the inside of the chest, giving away
their hiding place. That was when she realized he was kissing her so she
wouldn’t gasp.

She
let her body relax. After her initial shock faded, she was able to feel his
lips. They were comforting and caused a reaction deep inside her. She couldn’t
stop her lips from reacting to his. It was an innocent connection, a soft touch
of lips. Until his hand slid from her shoulder to her neck and the kiss
deepened into something else.

Chrys Fey is a lover of rock music
just like Dani Hart in 30 Seconds. Whenever she's writing at her desk,
headphones are always emitting the sounds of her musical muses -especially that
of her favorite band, 30 Seconds to Mars, the inspiration behind the title.

30 Seconds is her second eBook with
The Wild Rose Press. Her debut, Hurricane Crimes, is also available on Amazon.

Discover her writing tips on her blog, and connect with her on Facebook. She loves to get to know her readers!

Thursday, 18 September 2014

As a person, I've never been the most confident. At school, I never offered the answer to a question in class, even if I knew the answer. I never volunteered to read aloud, even though I can read perfectly well. I never asked the guy out, never made the first move. Never believed I was pretty or thin, or clever enough.

Simply, I always thought someone (or everyone) was better than me.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about arrogance here. Just a basic level of confidence.

This has carried on into my publishing career, and I have come to realise that one of the bigger problems with my book sales is just that I don't have enough confidence in my work.

Have you seen those amazing authors who post with such enthusiasm about their own books? I don't mean the pushy, "buy my book now!" people - just those who are so happy with what they are putting out there, they ooze confidence (even if it's faked, because let's face it, releasing a book is always terrifying!).

I released my first book in 2012. I was thrilled with it. I still love it now - I love all of my books. But when someone says to me, "Hey, I bought your book, I can't wait to read it!", although I always say thank you, I often can't stop myself from saying, "Oh, you didn't have to do that, you probably won't like it, it's not that good."

This isn't something I say to fish for compliments - it's like a safety net. If they really don't like it, at least they won't tell people I go around bragging about a book that is crap. I DON'T think my books are crap, but I can't bring myself to be too positive about them.

But this is NOT the attitude. Not the attitude that will sell a book.

This brings me to my new book.Nobody Knows - my baby, and the book I have seriously high hopes for.

I don't want to start promotion for this book with negativity in my head. I want to be the author who says, "I wrote this, and it's really great, and I think you would love it!" I BELIEVE in this book. I believe in the story and the characters and I think my writing is the best it has ever been in this book. I have an amazing cover for it, I have a team of wonderful people helping to promote it.

Yet those nagging voices say, "Yeah, but.... what if it's a gigantic flop? Stop bigging up the book, because if it fails, at least the crash won't be so hard!"

I know every writer feels it. I know I'm not alone. But right now I am fighting hard at unlocking my inner confidence and being secure enough to say, "Hi, I'm Kyra Lennon, and I wrote this book. It's about rock stars, and it's about friendships, and it's about the complications that arise when the lines between friendships and love get blurred, and how people who have such tangled pasts try to find their way forward when their mistakes return to haunt them. It has heart. The characters are flawed, but I think you will like them because of that. I love them because of that. I feel like each one of them is a small part of me, and I truly think the best books are those the author has poured a little of themselves into. I am proud I wrote this, and I hope you feel the story the way I do."

Yup, that is all totally schmaltzy, but hey, if I don't believe in my work, I am going to have a hard time convincing anyone else it's worth reading.

Confidence really is the key.

(P.S You can sign up for the cover reveal right here - I'm telling you - this cover is AMAZING! You seriously don't want to miss this!)

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

We're excited to share the gorgeous covers for the HAVOC Series by Autumn Grey! Let us know what you think!

Havoc (Havoc #1)

Genre: Adult contemporary romance

Release date: December 2, 2014

Blurb:Selene Michaels is determined to never let anyone make her feel inferior again. After a painful divorce, she finds herself in Paris on a working holiday, hopeful that this will be the opportunity she has been waiting for. She intends to have fun and maybe find a Prince Charming to flirt with; someone who will show her a good time, treat her right, and awaken her to all she has been missing. What she does not expect to find is Remington St. Germain and his adorable son, Adrien. Remington is intense, devastatingly hot and a Prince Charming on the outside, but a dirty talking, insatiable devil behind closed doors—the opposite of the man she has been hoping for—and not the type to give up on something that he wants. Selene soon realizes that life with Remington is not only interesting, but adventurous. It’s dangerous, and she’s about to find out how dangerous. . . if she is brave enough to take a chance.

Blurb:"I knew the moment I gave in to pursuing Selene that trouble would follow me. It always does. I should have resisted."

Remington St. Germain is at a crossroads. He can either go after the one person who makes him feel as if he matters—the only person to ever calm the demons that roam his mind—or forget about her. The latter is not an option, even though there is a chance she might reject him. But, damn it all to hell, he will convince her. He has to. Otherwise, he will be right back where he was before she came into his life.

Selene Michaels' stay in Paris is only temporary. She shouldn't get too attached to Remington and his son, Adrien. But, Remington makes her feel alive and reckless, and Adrien makes her loss almost bearable. They complete her. She has a feeling there is more to Remington than a doting single father and her overprotective Prince Charming. Besides, the risk of being with them still looms closeby and she will do anything to keep them safe.

Sometimes life gives you a second chance. But what happens when danger threatens that chance?

Blurb:Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, especially in love. Remington has played that game before and lost. One thing is certain… Losing Selene is not an option. As the threat on their lives looms closer, he knows one wrong move and she might disappear from his life forever. The clock is ticking, and Remington is competing against time to save the woman who is fast becoming a part of his soul.

But what happens after that? Will she stay, or will his past destroy any chance with her?

Love is what remains after our reservations melt away; when we let our demons come out to play.

Selene knows it is just a matter of time before all hell breaks loose. Whoever is after them is after blood. Her blood. She should have cut ties with Remington the second she read that first letter, but that is no longer a choice. She has fallen too far, too hard, and she is in too deep, both emotionally and physically.

At times secrets unite, and sometimes they destroy lives. Will the secret that binds them be enough to break Selene and Remington, or will it mend shattered bonds and make them stronger?

The past few months had been a blur of tireless workouts, to get back in shape to get back into modeling. If there was a city that’d make me forget the shit plaguing my life, Paris was it. I was here for work and pleasure, and I intended to take the pleasure part very seriously. The only thing clouding my bliss was right there in front of me—the receptionist currently tapping the polished counter of the Hotel L’Arc with his fingers.

I dropped my head in my hands, tired. I'd been waiting for Andrew—my contact with Sara Arden Modeling agency here in Paris—to call me back after having left several voice messages on his phone.

A soft, deep baritone on my right pulled me out of my thoughts. I lifted my head and turned around, momentarily forgetting that I didn't have a room for the night as my gaze locked with the tall guy standing beside me, dressed in a black pea coat and jeans. Pain and something like devastation flashed in his eyes, before he quickly schooled his expression.

He was tall, with dark, slightly wavy hair that curled at the nape of his neck, high cheekbones, and a chiseled jaw covered in a light scruff. Dark eyebrows with equally long, spiky lashes fringed his emerald-green eyes, which were now fixed intensely on me, his expression unreadable. And finally, his lips—full but not overly so and wide with a touch of rosy pink that gave them a healthy look.

And he was still staring at me, his brow furrowed as though he were trying to figure out something. Or was it confusion?

My gaze moved away from his as I narrowed my eyes, taking in how his navy-blue blazer framed his broad shoulders and his blue jeans hugged his muscular thighs.

God, he was beautiful. And very scary. Why the hell was he staring at me like that?

Being a size-twelve model, I was used to people staring at me appreciatively. Or sometimes in veiled disgust. I saw none of that on this man's face. Admittedly, not everyone was into full-bodied girls like me. Not knowing what was going on behind those green eyes was as disturbing as the weird pull I felt toward him. I've always heard people say how they meet someone, and right there the earth shifts around them or some gravitational shit. This wasn't that kind of pull, but a primal awareness of two souls.

Author bio:Autumn Grey is the author of the soon to be released contemporary romance, Havoc, Obliterate, Mend (Havoc series). And just like her characters, she is quirky, sometimes funny and definitely flawed. She writes sexy contemporary romances full of drama, steamy kisses and happy ever afters.

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

So... I've been missing a lot lately, and for once, it hasn't ALL been about work. Well, most of it has lol, but I've also had some time to actually enjoy what's left of summer. But now it's time for me to get back to blogging and catching up with all of you again!

You may remember that in the past I have made references to my "rock band" book. Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook will have seen me talking about this, and spotted a few teasers popping up here and there.

The book will be released on November 3rd, and I need a little help with my cover reveal on October 8th to spread the word as far as possible!

Blurb: It's not easy being friends with rising rock stars - especially when you're the glue that holds them together.

Razes Hell has taken off in the charts, and Ellie can't believe her childhood friends, Drew and Jason Brooks, are on TV and drawing crowds after years spent playing in dodgy bars. From obscurity to overnight success, Ellie soon realizes life in the public eye isn’t all it’s cracked up to be as dark secrets become headline news and old conflicts are re-ignited.

When a fake feud meant to boost the band’s popularity threatens to rip the boys apart for real, Ellie finds herself torn – a position which only gets more uncomfortable when her loyalty to Jason collides with her blossoming relationship with Drew.

Nobody knows how deep their issues run; nobody but Ellie. With friendship, a music career and a new love on the line, can Ellie keep their tangled pasts from ruining their futures?

If you would like to help me out with the cover reveal, you can sign up here
Thank you! <3>3>

Tuesday, 9 September 2014

Fifteen-year-old Piper Crenshaw
knows her house is strange. It’s never needed repairs since it was
built in the 1800s, and the lights flicker in response to things she
says. As if those things aren’t creepy enough, it’s also the place where
her mother committed murder.
To prove she’s not afraid of where she lives, Piper opens a forbidden
door, which hides a staircase that leads to the ceiling. That’s when
the flashbacks of the original residents from 1875 start, including a
love affair between two young servants. Each vision pulls Piper deeper
into not only their story, but also her house. Piper confides in her
best friend, Todd, whom she’s gradually falling for, but even he doesn’t
believe her. At least, not until her house gets axed during a prank,
and the act injures Piper instead, cutting a gash the size of Texas into
her stomach.
Piper realizes her house isn’t haunted—it’s alive. To sever her link
to it, she must unravel the clues in the flashbacks and uncover the
truth about her mother’s crime, before she becomes part of her house for
good.

Cortney
Pearson is a book nerd who studied literature at BYU-Idaho, a music
nerd who plays clarinet in her local community orchestra, and
a writing nerd who creates stories for young adults. She lives with
her husband and three sons in a small Idaho farm town.

Monday, 8 September 2014

I just wanted to extend a gigantic thank you to everyone who took part in the Cats Protection Anthology Bloghop on Friday! I was overwhelmed by every single entry, and when this book is put together, it is going to be superb. I will keep you updated on the progress - I hope to have at least a rough idea of a release date by the end of the week.

I promised a $10 Amazon gift voucher to one random participant in the bloghop, and that winner is: Sarah Foster! Sarah, I will be in touch probably tomorrow about this - if I don't get back to you, please make sure to remind me as I have a crazy busy week (again).

Friday, 5 September 2014

I am SO excited because it's finally time for the Cat Anthology bloghop!

The details:

The story MUST have a cat in it (obviously :p )

You can write a story within your usual genre - even if it's a sci-fi
cat, or a paranormal cat, or a love story that has a cat in itYou can write a poem if you prefer

The absolute maximum word count is 2500 words

All entries must be edited by the author prior to publication

You MUST write somewhere on your post that you allow permission for me to use your work in the book

You must also attach a short bio and one link to a place people can find you online

Authors retain copyright for any work submitted to the anthology, and
can republish their own work elsewhere, with the understanding that all
proceeds for THIS anthology will be going to Cats Protection (Teignbridge and Totnes Branch).

**Okay, so, here is my entry. You may recognise these characters if you've read my novella, If I Let You Go!

Santa Claws

“Madison, can we go home yet?”

Tilly tugged on my hand,
bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. Hard as she tried, she couldn’t hide
the fact that she knew a surprise awaited her when we got home. I should have
found a better hiding place for the kitten toys and cat adoption information,
but how was I to know she would rummage through my wardrobe in search of
suitable shoes for dressing up? I’d caught her holding a catnip mouse and
staring at the kitten on the front of the “How to Take Care of Your Cat” book
I’d hidden under a pile of clothes, and when she heard my footsteps, she threw
the mouse back in the cupboard and somehow emerged holding onto my favourite
pair of Irregular Choice heels, a look of innocence on her face.

“Not yet,” I told her. “I
thought you wanted to go to the toy shop and look for things to put on your
Christmas list.”

“Santa already knows what I
want. Let’s go!”

I’d taken her out for lunch to
her favourite pizza place while the last minute bits of the “surprise” were
tied together, and I had to keep her out until I got a text to let me know
everything was ready. I hoped for the sake of my sanity it wouldn’t be too much
longer, because Tilly had been begging me to take her back to the apartment
pretty much since we walked out the door. Even her favourite sickly sweet
dessert didn’t take her mind off the fact that there would be a kitten waiting
for her when we returned.

It was difficult to hide my
own glee because there was an extra surprise awaiting her, one she could never
have guessed.

“What’s the rush?” I asked,
wondering if the six-year-old bundle of happy at my side would confess she knew
something was up.

Her cheeks flushed briefly,
and she pulled me along the street. “I just want to go home now. You said we
were going out for lunch. We’ve had lunch, so we can go.”

“Not so fast.” I stopped. Her
hand slid out of mine and she stumbled forward a few paces, her momentum still
strong.

“Madison! Come on!”

I took her hand in mine again
and steered her towards the toy shop. “This is supposed to be a girls’ day out.
So let’s shop.”

Tilly groaned, realising she
wasn’t going to wear me down. As we walked, I couldn’t help but breathe in the
cold November air as it whipped around us, leaving a pleasant sting on my
cheeks. It was only early afternoon but there was a wintery darkness all around
us. Lights from Christmas trees glistening in shop windows made the usually
bland streets look like a winter wonderland, and a little shiver of happiness
rippled through me because we were getting closer to the best Christmas ever.

Things in the Hartley
household had been a little manic recently. In fact, since Tilly’s dad, Dominic,
left to work in New York just over nine weeks ago, our lives had been tipped
upside down. The lines of my job as Tilly’s live-in nanny, and then becoming
Dominic’s girlfriend, had blurred in ways neither of us had expected, but while
he was away we both agreed we’d – mostly
– continue as employer/employee until he came home in three weeks and we would
spend out first Christmas as an actual family.

The chaos had been added to
when Dominic’s mum, brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew had come to visit
two days ago. They weren’t all staying with us, just Dominic’s mum, Jane, but
it had thrown our routine a little out of kilter. I couldn’t complain though. I
loved them all and they were an integral part of my plans.

As we reached the window of
the toy shop – an impressive festive display of bright tinsel and fairy lights
surrounding a selection of toys Father Christmas’ elves would envy - Tilly let
out a heavy sigh.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

She peered up at me from
beneath her long lashes. “There’s just too much to choose from.”

“I thought you were after the
Sylvanian Families canal boat and some more animals?”

“But which animals? There are
so many to choose from.”

It was true. She already had enough
to start her own toy pet shop, but there were plenty more she hadn’t got her
hands on yet.

“I think the chocolate bunnies
are cute,” I said, pointing to them.

Tilly nodded. “I like them.
But I like the cats too. I wonder what my cat will-”

Her eyes widened and she
slapped her hand over her mouth. With a roll of my eyes, I said, “Matilda Rose,
did you really think I didn’t know you knew?”

“You knew?” she shrieked. “But…
if you knew, why can’t we just go home and see my kitten?”

“Because I have to wait for
Nana to let me know she’s picked him up and taken him back to the flat. You’re
going to have to act surprised, honey. Nana came a long way to help with this
surprise.”

“I can act surprised.” She
straightened her face, took a few deep breaths to “centre herself” then let out
a large gasp, her jaw dropping before she grinned like the Cheshire Cat and
jumped up and down. After a couple of seconds, she stopped, bowed, and said, “Was
that okay?”

This kid.

I laughed out loud and pulled
her into a hug. I should have felt bad for teasing her. In reality, there would
be no need for her to fake shock, but I had to have a little fun. Getting the
plans in place had been like a military operation.

My phone buzzed in my bag, and
Tilly grinned again as I pulled it out.

All ready. Just text when you get outside so we can put everything in
the box before you come in.

I tapped back a quick reply
then turned to Tilly. “Okay, the wait is over. We can go.”

“Yay!”

Tilly could barely keep still in
the car on the way home, and my own stomach began to bubble with excitement
too. I’d been waiting for this day just as much as Tilly. Trying to keep
secrets from her was hard – I’d never done that before. But it would be worth
it when she saw what was waiting for her.

After parking the car in the
underground car park, I sent a message to Jane to tell her we were coming up
the stairs.

“Are you ready to pretend to
be surprised,” I asked, trying to stall us just a little to give Jane more
time.

“I’m ready.”

The butterflies in my stomach
intensified as we began our walk up to the flat. I wanted to talk to Tilly on
the way, but I was too excited to form any words. Beside me, Tilly seemed to
feel the same way, so we exchanged happy smiles, saying nothing.

I unlocked the front door, and
there stood Jane beside a large cardboard box in the middle of the hallway.

Without missing a beat, Tilly’s
eyes narrowed. “What’s that?”

Yup. Definitely worthy of an Oscar.

“It’s a gift for you,” Jane
told her. “An early Christmas present.”

“For me?”

She glanced up at me, mischief
dancing in her eyes behind her faked confusion.

Cautiously, Tilly approached
the box, as I considered how much it would cost to send her to stage school.
She lifted the lid, and I bit on my bottom lip, waiting with anticipation for
her to see her real surprise.

Tilly screeched and stumbled
backwards as Dominic rose from the box, holding a sleeping, tiny, grey fluffy
kitten carefully in his arms.

“Daddy!”

“Hi, baby girl.”

Still in shock, Tilly stared
at her father; I didn’t think she’d even noticed the kitten yet. I glanced at
Jane, and we smiled at each other as Dominic stepped out of the box. He
crouched down in front of it and Tilly ran towards him, halting when she
finally spotted her new pet.

“Oh my goodness!” she gasped.

Dominic lifted his free arm
and wrapped it around Tilly, and her head fell onto his shoulder as she
squeezed him tight.

“What are you doing here?” she
asked. “You said you wouldn’t be home until Christmas!”

“Well,” Dominic began, “I’ve
worked very hard, and my boss said I could come back early. No more New York.
No more long business trips. I’m home.”

Tears misted my eyes. Of
course, I knew he was coming home early, but the truth of it, that we would
finally get to all be together without Dominic leaving all the time was the
best thing I could have asked for.

Tilly cautiously reached out
her hand towards the kitten, then drew back. Jane and I both walked towards
them, and I kneeled down on the floor beside Dominic. He turned to give me the
kiss I had waited so long for.

“I missed you,” he said.

“Missed you too.”

Our kitten wriggled in Dominic’s
hand, as if asking for attention, and he slowly opened his eyes.

“Aww,” Tilly said in a soft
voice. “Can I hold him?”

“Of course,” Dominic said. “He’s
yours.”

Tilly sat down on the floor as
Dominic handed the little ball of fluff to her. She ran a gentle finger across
the top of his head. “He’s so soft.”

“What are you going to call
him?” Jane asked.

For a moment, Tilly pondered
her grandmother’s question before her face split into a huge smile.